Method of and machine for inking ribbons



Dec. 8, 1925- C. W. BERRY METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR INKING RIBBONS Filed Feb. 25 1924 4 Sheets-$heet 1 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY WITNE SE5 Dec 8, 1925- c. w. BERRY METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR INKING RIBBONS Filed Feb. 25., 1924 4 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY C. W. BERRY METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR INKING RIBBONS Deca 8, 1925- Filed Feb. 25, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR flivvlw 0% I BY WITNESSES MAW ATTORNEY 'vl U C W. BERRY METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR INKING RIBBONS 4 Sheets-Sheet led Feb. 25

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. ,8, 1925. I)

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. BERRY, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON TYPEWBITER COMPANY, OF ILION, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR INKING RIBBONS.

Application filed February 25, 1924. Serial No. 694,860.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BERRY, citizen of the United States, and resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented Inproved Methods of and Machines for Inking Ribbons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of and machine for inking rlbbons of the character employed in typewriting and like machines.

Heretofore it has beencustomary to produce multi-color ribbons of the so-called end-to-vend variety by connecting the end of a section of the ribbon of one color withv another section of a different color; the adjacent overlapping ends of the ribbon being united by a suitable adhesive. The sections of such ribbons were apt to be torn apart or become disconnected by the overlapping connected ends thereof catching on the usual ribbon guides or guiding means during the operation of the typewriting machine in which the ribbons were employed. Moreover,making ribbons by connecting the different colored sections in the manner described was comparatively slow.

The object of my invention, generally stated, is to rovide an improved method and machine y which these difliculties are overcome and continuous end-to-end multicolor ribbons may be inked continuously without interrupting the feed of the ribbon in its passage through the inking machine.

To the above and other ends which will hereinafter a car 111 invention consists in the improved method of and machine for inking ribbons, to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters indicate correspond ing parts in the different views,

Figure 1 is adiagrammatic side View of a ribbon inking machine embodying my invention, only so much of said machine being shown as is necessary to arrive at an understanding of my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail fragmentary sectionalview of a portion of the machine shown on a larger scale, the section being taken on the line 22 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the front of one of the ink containers and the ribbon passing out of the container as it is being fed through the machine.

Figure 4 is a detail top plan view of the 1nk containers and the means for supporting the same.

Fi ure 5 is a face view of a portion of the ribbon showin the appearance thereof at a point where t 1e color fields of one ribbon 30in. I

Figure 6 shows a portion of the ribbon where a reverse shift of the color control has taken place in the operation of the machine and where eventually one ribbon will be separated from the next.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear view of the ink containers and the means for supporting and shifting the same.

Flgure 8 is a detail diagrammatic perspective view showing one of the ribbon supporting rolls and the counter controlled thereby.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the ink containers with the gate rei moved.

tion has been embodied, and have shown only so much of said machine as is necessary to arrive at an understanding of the invention. It may be remarked, however, that by my present invention I am enabled to take an existing machine and by simple modifications thereof convert said machine into one in which end-to-end continuous multi-color ribbons may be effectively produced, as here inafter described.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be understood that the ribbon or web 1 is fed continuously from a supply spindle 2 to a take-u spindle 3. In thus passing continuously t rough the machine in a given invariable line, the ribbon or web runs in an un-inked condition from the spindle 2 through a suitable guide 4, thence over a .roller 5 and through an ink containing paper of slightly greater width than the ribbon. The strip of paper 8 runs from a supply spindle 8 over suitable guide rollers 10 and 11 to pressure rolls l2 and 13, betweenwhich the strips 8 and 9 and the interposed inked ribbon are pressed. Th1s causes a certain amount of surplus ink on the ribbon to be taken off or absorbed by the strips 8 and 9, leaving just the requisite amount of ink in the ribbon. As the strip 8 leaves the pressure rolls 12 and 13, it passes over a guide roller 14, thence to a takeup spindle 15 on which the strip is wound. The strip 9 comes from a supply spindle 16, and after passing the pressure rolls 12 and 13 goes to a take-up spindle 17. These pressure rolls have the usual or any suitable means by which the pressure thereof on thestrips 8 and 9 and the interposed ribbon may be varied at will, thereby regulating the amount of ink taken off the ribbon by the absorbent strips 8 and 9. These pressure rolls also constitute feed rolls by which the ribbon and strips 8 and 9 are withdrawn or fed from their supply spindles and determine the rate of such feed; the usual or any suitable means being provided to vary the speed ofthese rolls. It will be observed that the roll 5 is of the same size as each of the feed rolls 12 and 13, andit is driven in unison therewith. A Veeder or other suitable counter 13 is controlled from the roller 5 to indicate the number of yards of ribbon that have been inked, in order that the operator may know when to shift the color control between ribbon lengths and betwemdifierent sections on each ribbon, as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

For the purpose of the present invention, especially from the broader aspects thereof, any suitable source of ink supply that will meet the requirements of the present invention may be employed. However, I have found that the double ink containers 6 and herein shown, and shiftably mounted as indicated herein, answer the purpose very well. These containers 6 and 7 are alike and the description of one applies to the other. Like reference numerals will therefore be applied to corresponding parts of the two double containers. Each container comprises a base plate 19, upstanding walls 20 secured thereto, sloping bottom walls 21 and a centrally located partition plate or wall 22 that extends substantially the length of the inclined bottom walls 21 and divides the container into two separate compartments or chambers A, B, or U, D. The bottom walls 21 are secured at their side edges, as indicated at 23, to the side plates 20 of the container and terminates at their lower ends 24 a slight distance from the upper surface of the base plate 19. A strap or brace 25 is secured to the side plate 20 and to the partition wall or plate 22 to more firmly connect these parts together and firmly brace one against the other. The forward edge portion of each partition plate 22 has overlapping guide strips 26 secured thereto, the intermediate space between said strips forming a guide-way. The

inwardly turned forward end 27 of each side plate 20, together with a correspond.- ing strip 28, form an intermediate guideway at each side of the open front of each container. A so-called gate 29, which is shown in detail in Fig. 10, is provided with a fixedly secured centrally located upstand ing plate or fin 30 pro ecting rearwardly therefrom. The rear edge of this plate is received in the companion guideway between the strips 26, whereas the side edges of the gate slide in the ways formed by the parts 21' and 28. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a suitable fiexble bed rests on each bed plate 19 intermediate said bed plate and the lower edge of the gate and the inclined bottom walls 21. I prefer to make this bed of a lower layer of felt 31 and upper layer of blotting paper 32. The purpose of this flexible bed is to permit a ribbon to be fed through a container and be inked by the ink contained therein without having the ink flow to the outside of the container beneath the bottom edges of the walls 21 and 30 and the gate 29. It also enables a relative lateral shifting movement to be'efi'ected between the ink containers and the ribbon while the ribbon is being fed longitudinally through the machine. Each gate 29 is held friction tight in its ways and may thus be held in any position to which it is adjusted to act at its lower edge with more or less pressure against the ribbon. This edge of the gate bearing against the upper surface of the ribbon operates as a doctor to determine in a measure the amount of ink to be supplied to the ribbon.

It will be observed that I have mounted the two double ink container 6 and 7 in tandem arrangement, or one in advance of the other in the direction of the feed of the ribbon, and that they are located but a short distance apart. lVhile I have shown two ink compartments or chambers a, b, or c, d in each container, it should be understood that at any given time only one compartment in each double container is in use or contains ink, as indicated in the compartments 6, c in Figure 4 for example. In every instance, however, the compartments which are used are out of alignment or are in staggered relation so that a simultaneous lateral shifting of the double containers I 6 and 7 will carry one ink-containing'ehanr her away from the line of travel of the ribbon and the other into such line of travel. Obviously, therefore, only two ink containing chambers (b, c, or a, (2) instead of four are employed and need be provided and these are arranged in tandem but in the staggered relation.

From the broader aspects of my invention any suitable means may be employed for mounting the ink containers and for effooting a relative lateral shift between them and the ribbon to change the ink supplied to the ribbon. However, aconstruction for mounting and shifting the containers such as that disclosed herein has proven effective in practice and will now be described.

The base plates 19 of the containers 6 and 7 rest on a supporting plate 33 between two guide rails 34 secured to said supporting plate by screws 35. These guide rails overlap the outwardly extending sides of the bed plate 19 of each container and form guideways that prevent any lateral shifting of the conta ners on the supporting plate but enable each container to be adjusted in the direction of the travel of the ribbon, and to be removed and replaced as desired. In

order to hold each double container in its adjusted position on the supporting plate 33, I provide four winged thumb screws 36, one on. each side of each container. These screws are received in tapped openings in the guide rails 34 and bear at their lower ends against the upper faces of the bed plates 19 where they project beyond the side walls 20. The containers may thus be adjustably held or clamped on the supporting plate 33. I also prefer to adjustably secure the plate 33 on the shiftable carrier,

slide or support 37 by which said plate 33 is carried. This adjustment, however, is in a direct on transverse to the line of travel of the ribbon instead of in the direction longitudinal of such travel as previously described. The plate 33 has a number of slots 38 extending longitudinally at right angles to the line of feed of the ribbon, four such slots being shown. The stem of a headed screw 39 passes through each slot and through a washer 40 resting on the upper face of the plate. The threaded end of each screw takes in a tapped opening in the upper side of the slide 37. These screws may therefore firmly clamp the plate 33 to the slide and hold it in any lateral position to which it may be adjusted on the slide.

The slide or carrier 37 is recessed on its underside to receive a dove-tailed fixed support 41 that supports and guides said slide for movement at right angles to the line of travel of the ribbon. The support 41 is secured by screws 42 to bracket arms 43 on the frame of the machine. A depending bracket 44 is secured by screws 45 to the member 41 and forms the support for a headed pivot stud 46 secured to the bracket 44 by a nut 47.

A controlling or shifting member 48 is piv oted on said stud 46 and is provhid with a depending handle 49 and an upstanding seg mental rack 50 that extends into a recess 51 formed in the support 41. The teeth of this rack mesh with the teeth of a rack bar 52 secured by screws 53 to the bottom of the slide 37. Suitable stops 54 and 55 on the bracket 44 co-act with the controlling member 48 to limit its pivotal movement in opposite directions.

As the parts are "slrown in Figures 2, 4 and i 7, the ribbon is being fed from the supply spindle 2 to the take-up spindle 3- through the ink chamber 12, which we will assume contains blue ink. The ribbon continues to be inked with this blue ink until the operator observes from the counter 18 that, say, so

eight yards of ribbon have been inked. The operator then shifts the handle 49 from the Fig. 7 position until it is arrested by the stop 55. This results in effecting a move-,

ment of the slide 37, together with the parts carried thereby, transversely of the line of travel of the ribbon and while its longitudinal feed continues. The result of this shifting movement is to carry the ink compartment 1) containing the blue ink away from at which the ribbon 1 is being fed and the speed of shifting the ink containers, but ordinarily the line of joinder of the two fields will be about as indicated in Fig. 5. The ribbon continues to be inked with black ink until the operator observes from the counter that, say, four vards of ribbon have been thus inked. The handle 49 is then shifted .back to the Fig. 7 position. This results in shifting the chamber 0 with the black ink away from the ribbon and bringing the chamber 6 with the blue ink into line of travel of the ribbon and to ink the first section of eight yards of a second twelve yard length of ribbon. So on the handle 49 is shifted back and forth to control the color change until the entire reel of ribbon of, say,

from one hundred and forty-five to one hundred and fort-v-nine yards passes through the machine. In shifting the ink containers back as last described to ink in blue instead of black, the two adjacent ribbon lengths will be joined somewhat as indicated in Fig. 6. From an inspection of this figure it will be seen that the point where two colored sections join adjacent full lengths of ribbon present a difi'erent appearance from that indicated in Fig. 5 where the diiferent colored sections in a single ribbon length join each other. In Fig. 6 a white nn-inked streak, indicated at 57, is interposed between the I blue and black fields e and f respectively.

CJI

, at 57 Each such mark indicates a point of black.

separation between two adjacent ribbons, and each ribbon length of twelve yards Wlll be divided along a line, such as 56, into two,

end-to-end fields e and f of diflerent charac teristics or different colors, as blue and After the ribbon has been passed through the machine and inked in the manner indicated, it is separated in twelve foot lengths at the points 57 and the white streaks may be cut away, leaving only a blue end of one ribbon and a black end of the other where the ribbons are separated.

For clearness of illustration I have referred to a specific example in which each ribbon is twelve yards long and is divided end-to-end into an eight yard blue field e and a four yard black field f. It should be understood, however, that the ribbon may be of various lengths; that the difierent fields of each ribbon may be of various colors, as red and black, black and purple, blue and black, etc., or the different fields may even be of the same color but have a copying ink at one section or field thereof and record ink at the other section or field. In any event a continuous ribbon will be provided with inks of different characteristics at different portions of the length thereof. Moreover, relative lengths of different fields or sections of each ribon may be varied at will, the eighty and four yard proportions being merely referred to as one example of the division used. It will be understood, moreover, that the counter 18 aids the operator in inking ribbons in each case in accordance with any desired proportions of the fields required of each ribbon and also the divisions of ribbons into any required lengths.

It will be seen that by the simple method of effecting a relative shifting between two sources of supply of ink having different characteristics and the ribbon laterally of the line of feed of the latter, and while said ribbon is being fed longitudinally, the following result is produced. The effect at each such relative shift is to discontinue the application of ink from one source of supply and apply a different ink from the other source of supply. This results in producing continuous ribbons each with inks of different characteristics at different portions of the length thereof and without arresting the feed of the ribbon during the inking operation.

By shifting the ink containers in the manner herein shown and described, I am enabled to readily effect a change in the ink applied to the ribbon without interfering with or discontinuing the feed of -the ribbon, or varying the line of feed thereof through the machine whereit co-acts with various feeding and guiding devices, and without disturbing such feeding and guiding devices. Moreover, I am enabled by my invention to take existing machines and by comparatively simple changes adapt such machines to attain the purposes of the present invention.

It is highly desirable to mount the ink containers or chambers b, '0, or a, cl intandem but staggered arrangement or out of alignment in some such manner as that shown herein instead of arranging two such chambers side-by-side. The reason for this is that the last mentioned arrangement enables ink of one color to be carried from its chamber by the ribbon and mixed with the ink of a different color in the other chamber when the ink containers are shifted by the handle 49, and this disadvantage is overcome by the tandem arrangement shown.

Various changes may be made without departing from my invention and various features thereof may be used Without others.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a machine for inking ribbons for typcwriting or like machines in different end-to-end sections, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two separate sources of ink supply for the ribbon, and means for effecting a relative shifting between said sources of supply and the ribbon crosswise of the latter and to an extent equal at least to the width of the ribbon without discontinuing its feed and hereby cut off the application of ink from one source of supply and apply ink to the ribbon from the other source of supply.

2. In a machine for inking ribbons for typeWriLing or like machines, the combination of means for feeding the web from which the ribbons are made through the machine, two ink containers one of which is out of co-operative relation with the web throughout its width when the other container is in co-operative relation therewith to ink the web throughout its width, and means for simultaneously shifting said containers laterally or crosswise of and relatively to the web without discontinuing the feed thereof.

3. In a machine for inking ribbons at different parts in the length thereof with inks having different characteristics, the combi nation of means for feeding the ribbon through the machine, means for applying ink of one characteristic to the ribbon throughout the width thereof at one portion of the length of the ribbon and means for discontinuing the application of such inkand simultaneously applying an ink havmg a different characteristic at another pol:-

tion in the length of the ribbon and throughout the width thereof and alternately varying the inking of the ribbon in the manner stated as often as desired without arresting the feed thereof.

' the machine, t-Wo ink containers containing ink of different characteristics and arranged one in advance of the other and out of alignment and means for simultaneously shifting said containers transversely to the line of feed of the ribbon in order to move one of said containers out of alignment with the ribbon and bring the other container into alignment therewith without interrupting the feed of the ribbon, whereby one part of the length of the ribbon may be linked with an ink of one characteristic and another part of the length may be inked 'with an ink having 'a different characteristic.

5. In a machine for inking ribbons for typewriting or like machines, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two containers containing ink of different characteristics, means which enable the ribbon to be fed through either container to the exclusion of the other and to shift from one container to another without interrupting the feed of the ribbon, and means operable at will for effecting a relative shifting betweensaid contalners and ribbon without interrupting the feed of the ribbon, whereby ink ribbons each with different end-to-end sections may be produced. 6. In a machine for inking ribbons for typewriting or like machines, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two containers containing ink of different characteristics, means which enable theribbon to be fed through either container to the exclusion of the other and to shift from one container to another without interrupting the feed of the ribbon, means operable at will for effecting a relative shifting between said containers and ribbon without interrupting the feed of the ribbon, and automatically operating count ing mechanism for counting the amount of ribbon fed through the machine in order that the operator may be notified when to effect such relative shifting between the containers and ribbon.

7. 'In a machine for inking ribbons for typewriting or like machines, the combination of a supply spindle, a splndle on which the ribbon is wound after being inked, two containers containing ink having different characteristics, said containers being arranged one in advance of the other and out of alignment, a slide movable transversely of the direction of the feed of the ribbon and means for shifting said slide.

8'. In a machine for inking ribbons for typewriting. or like machines, the combination of a supply spindle, a spindle on which the ribbon is wound after being inked, two containers containing ink having different characteristics, said containers being arranged one in advance of the other and out of alignment, a slide movable transversely of thedirection of the feed of the ribbon means for detachably and adjustably mounting said containers on the slide, and means for shifting said slide.

9, In a machine for inking ribbons for typewritmg or like machines, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two ink containers one of which is out of co-operative relation with the rib bon when the other is in co-operative relatlon therewith, a shiftable support on which said containers are mounted, and means operable at will for shifting said support without interfering with the feed of the ribbon. I

10. Ina machine for inking ribbons for typewrlting or like machines, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two ink containers one of which is out of co-operative relation with the nbbon when the other is in co-operative relation therewith, rneans for detachably 1ng said containers on said support, and hand actuated means operable at will for shifting said support relatively to the ribbon.

11. In a machine for inking ribbons for .typewriting or like machines, the combina tion of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two ink containers one of which is out of co-operative relation with the ribbon when the other is in co-operative relation therewith, a shiftable support by which said containers are carried and by which they may be shifted relatively to the ribbon to move one container out of co-operative re-. lation with the ribbon and bring the other into co-operative relation therewith, means for shifting said support, and indicating means to indicate to the operator when said shifting means should be actuated.

12. In a machine for inking ribbons for typewriting or like machines, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two ink containers one of which relation with the ribbon and bring the other into co-operative relation therewith, a rack carried by said support, and a co-operative a shiftable support, and ad ustably mounttion of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two ink containers one of which is out of co-operative relation with the ribbon when the other is in co-operative relation therewith, a shiftable support by-which said containers are carried and by which they may be shifted relatively to the ribbon to move one container out of co-operative relation with the ribbon and bring the other into co-operative relation therewith, means for detachably and adjustably securing saidcontainers'to said support, a rack bar secured to said support, a segmental rack which co-acts with said .rack bar, and a handle for actuating said segmental rack to shift said support.

14. In a machine for inking r bbons for typewriting or like machines, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two ink containers one of which is out of co-operative relation with the ribbon when the other is in co-operative relation therewith and through which the ribbon may be fed and pass from one container to an other when said containers are shifted, and means for shifting said containers either in one direction or the other to determine through which container the ribbon shall feed.

15. In a machine for inking ribbons for typewriting or like machines, the combination of means for feeding ribbon through the machine, two ink containers one of which is out of cooperative relation with the ribbon when the other is in co-operative relation therewith and through which the ribbon may be fed and pass from one container to another when said containers are shifted, means for shifting said containers either in one direction or the other to determine through which container the ribbon shall feed, and automatically operating indicating means for indicating to the operator when said shifting means should be shifted.

16. The method of inking ribbons for typewriting or like machines, which includes feeding the ribbon in the direction of its length and while thus feeding it effecting a relative shift between two separate sources of supply of ink having different character lstics and the ribbon laterally of the direction of the feed of the latter to discontinue the application of the ink from one source of supply and apply a different ink from the other source of supply to the ribbon, thereby producing a continuous ribbon with inks of different characteristics at different portions of the length thereof.

17. The method of inking ribbons for typewriting or like machines, which includes feeding the ribbon in the direction of its len th and while thus feeding it effecting a shift of\two separate sources of supply of ink having different characteristics laterally and independently of the ribbon to discontinu the application of the ink from one source of supply and apply to the ribbon a different ink from the other source of supply, thereby producing a continuous ribbon with inks of different characteristics at dift'erent portions of the length thereof;

18. The method of inking ribbons for t ypewriting or like machines, which includes feeding the ribbon in the direction of its length and while thus feeding it effecting a shift of two separate sources of supply of ink of different colors laterally and independently of the ribbon to discontinue the application of the ink of one color and apply to the ribbon an ink of a different color, thereby producing a continuous ribbon with inks of different colors at different portions of the length thereof.

19. In a machine for inking typewriter ribbons. the combination of means for continuously feeding the ribbon blank, two ink containers each having an outlet at least equal in width to that of the ribbon blank, said containers being so arranged that only one of them can be in register with the full width of the ribbon blank at a time, and means for simultaneously shifting both of said containers laterally of the ribbon blank a distance equal to the width of the latter so that one of said containers may be moved to an inoperative position and the other brought into working position.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this twenty-first day of February, A. D. 1924.

CHAS. W. BERRY. 

